Casting mechanism



5 Sheets-She et 1 H. F. HAGEMEYER CASTING MECHANISM Filed May 14, 1938 INVENTOR Q flmkrf'liaewzm? ATTORNEY Jan. 9 1940.

Jan. 9, 1940. H. F. HAGEMEYER CASTING MECHANISM Filed May 14, 1958 3Sheets-Sheet 2 NVENTOR fifilvkrf g ATTQRNEY Ma gi: MEWM/WNLBEKIII an- 9, 1940- j H. F. HAGEMEYER 2,186,019

CASTING MECHANISM Filed May 14, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 17 11 1 5A S mmmu E} Q i ulll qmun r I Patented Jan. 9 194i) UNITED STATES:

2,186,019 I cns'rmo MEQHANISM Henry F. Hagemeyer,- Chicago, Ill., assignor to Castings Patent Corporation, a corporation of Illinois Application May 14, 1938, Serial No. 207,932 10 Claims. (Cl. 22-90) I My invention pertains to casting presses of the type employed to hold flrmly together the cope and drag of a mold during the operation of filling the mold cavity with molten metal.

Some type of pressure has long been used upon molds during the pouring operation. Three principal sources of pressure have been common, namely, weights, clamps and presses of the plunger type, the latter being either screw or piston 10 for use in conjunction with mold presses of the plunger type, preferably those actuated by fluid operated pistons in the interest of more accurate regulation and quicker operation, although it is u also adaptable for use with the screw plunger type of press. Furthermore, while my invention may. advantageously be used with any type of mold, it is particularly useful in conjunction with pressure plates of the type disclosed and claimed in my application Serial No. 206,149, filed May 5,

' 1938, for Casting press plates, for pressing molds especially of the plastic or gypsum base type.

In essence my invention consists in mounting a mold supporting or pressure plate or a number of such plates on a movable truck so that it can be loaded at the end of the mold production line with molds ready for pouring. This truck is so constructed that it may then be moved over to the pouring mechanism fully loaded. At this a station, when the molds are positioned beneath a rigid reaction frame, by a beam directly engaging each truck plate at three points arranged to form a triangle, the whole truck may be lifted clear of the floor, or at least lifted sufficiently so that pressure exerted upon the molds will not be transmitted-to the floor through the truck wheels.

The molds are subjected to pressure between upper pressure plates, associated with the rigid re-' action frame, and. the lower pressure plates carried by the truck either by this raising of the truck, or preferably by exertion of pressure thereon from above, by independent pressure cylinders supported between the reaction frame and upper pressure plates, after the truck is relieved of load by raising of the beam. The truck and press mechanism is designed to support the mold on an incline with the. sprue at the lower end operated. This invention is particularly adapted molds, for convenient and speedy removal of the poured molds from the press mechanism, and for disposal of the molding material and castings thereafter with facility. 1

Another object is to mount the pressure plates and other elements of the press mechanism to eliminate handling thereof and to'facilitate alignment of the molds with the press.

A still further object is to provide a. press construction which will berigid in operation and rugged, yet which will enable transportable elements of the press and of the mold transporting truck to be of skeletonconstruction of minimum weight.

It is also an object to support the press plates so that there will be no appreciable tendency to cause warping of the press plates or to interfere with the coincidence of the opposite pressure plates with the respective mold surfaces despite misalignment or deformation of certain parts of the press mechanism. or the supporting structure for such press mechanism or'for the mold carrying truck.

In the accomplishment of they foregoing objects it is an object to employ mechanism of a simple and comparatively inexpensive design, which may be operated with facility, and yet which will be of substantial construction.

Other objects obtained by the use of my preferred construction will be revealed in the following specific description of a practical form of the invention. Changes in the mechanism described and shown in the drawings will occur to one familiar with the art within the scope of my invention as defined inthe annexed claims.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of one end of my casting mechanism looking in the direction indicated by line I-| in Fig. 2, with the truck in its lower position, and

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken along line 2-2 of'Fig. 1, showing parts broken away, with the truck raised into pouring position.

Fig. 3 is a partial longitudinal section taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2. v

Fig. 4 is a partial transverse section taken alon the line 4-4 ofFig. 3. Fig. 5 is adiagram illustrating the operatic of part of the mechanism.

Fig. 6.is a perspective view of one .end of the truck.

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of an upper pressure plate. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of one form of upper pressure plate showing a part in section, and a Fig. 8A is a fragmentary side elevation of another form of upper pressure plate with apart in section.

Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of a lower pressure plate, and

Fig. 10 is an end elevation of the lower pres-' sure plate shown in inverted position.

The casting mechanism includes three principal components, first, a stationary upper frame from which upper pressure plates may be suspended, and which preferably carries pressure exerting mechanism, second, a beam 2 extending lengthwise beneath the frame and vertically reciprocable for a purpose to be explained hereafter, and third, a movable truck 3 which carries lower pressure plates each adapted to support a mold, and which truck may bemoved into position straddling the beam 2 and beneath the frame I.

The truck 3, as shown in Fig. 6, is independently movable. It may therefore be placed at the end of a mold production line to be filled with molds. My apparatus is particularly useful in the pouring of plastic molds, and hence the truck may be placed near the discharge end of the oven shown in my application Serial No. 203,872, filed April 23, 1938, for Molding processes. As the mold sections are discharged from the oven, the complemental sections of a complete mold M are assembled and placed upon a lower pressure plate 30. The truck may, of course, carry only a single such plate, but itis expedient to provide a number of such plates, eight or ten being suitable.

When the truck has been loaded it is rolled over beneath the frame I in position for the molds to be poured. During such movement each end frame 3| of the truck passes between an upright IU of the frame I and the adjacent end of beam 2. With the truck in this position pressure is exerted on each mold between its upper pressure plate H and its lower pressure plate 30. This pressure is not transmitted through the wheels of the truck 3 to the floor, however, for the raising of beam 2 lifts the truck wheels clear of the floor, or at least the beam assumes the weight and pressure of the lower plates 30 sufliciently that the truck is not unduly, strained. With the molds thus subjected to pressure they are poured, the pressure being released after the poured metal has solidified and the beam 2 lowered. The truck 3 may then be moved bodily from beneath the frame I with the poured molds still carried thereby to allow another truck loaded with molds to take its place. When the metal has cooled sufiicientlythe truck may be moved to a station where the molds are removed from. the truck and broken open, and the castings recovered and finished.

Having now in mind the general operation of my mechanism, attention is directed to structural features which I have found to be advantageous but which may be modified as required by the particular installation without departing from the spirit of my invention. For example, the beam 2 may be of various types and may be raised and lowered by different types and arrangements of mechanism, but I have illustrated a beam of H-beam section which cooptation of therock shafts 2|, and as the bar 23 is moved back again to the full line position all the arms 20 are raised simultaneously to the full line positions, carrying upward with them the beam 2 which they support. Any desired means, manual or power driven, may be employed to reciprocate bar 23, but I have illustrated, as one available type of operating mechanism, a rack' 25 secured to the bar 23 and driven by a crank 21 through a suitable gear train 23, including reducing gears and a rack pinion. All this drive mechanism may be supported directly upon beam 2, asshown. Suitable guides and supports will, of course, also be provided for the bar 23.

The rock shafts 2|, through the arms 20, carry the full weight of the beam 2, and in the upper position the weight of and pressure upon the pressure plates 30 as well. :These rock shafts 2| are therefore very firmly journaled in the side plates of bases 28. Wearplates may also be provided on the lower edges ofthe flanges of beam 2 for contact with the ends of arms 20. The side plates of bases 28 take the end thrust of bar 23 transmitted to beam 2 through the gear train 28 mounted on the beam. as well as guiding the reciprocating movement of the beam, by engagement of an edge of each such base side plate with a guide cleat 29 secured to the side face of the beam, as shown in Fig. 1. The tilt of the beam is controlled by its sides fitting between the base side plates as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. As also shown in these figures I prefer that the beam be tilted slightly so that the molds will be raised in somewhat inclined position with the sprue ends lowest. This assists in keeping the inflowing metal in a compact body as,it. progressively fills the mold cavity and prevents any appreciable amount of dross entering it.

While the beam'l might lift the mold from a horizontal position on the truck -3 into an inclined raised position, I prefer that the top of the truck itself, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6, be inclined to the same degree as the plane defined by plate must be such that no distortion of the plate occurs under pressing conditions. So that the plates 3|) will not be permanently'warped by deformation of the truck or its side bars 32. the plates 30 may be loose thereon and lifted clear of these bars by raising of the beam 2. In order to keep them in place on the truck, however, while obtaining the same results, I provide three point engagement of each plate with the truck side bars by means of the triangularly arranged bosses 33 Each boss is apertured to receive a bolt engageable in. corresponding apertures 34 in the side bars 32 of the truck. When the several plates 30 are engaged and lifted by the beam 2, therefore, the side bars 32 and the rest of the truck is also raised slightly, preferably to lift the truck wheels just clear of the floor as shown in Fig. 2.

In order that the plates 30 be not flexed or distorted by pressure thereon of the beam 2 during the raising operation I also provide three point engagement between such beam and each plate. Contact bosses 35 are disposed in triangular relationship on each plate 30, as shown in Fig. 9, and so spaced that the perpendicular distance between the single boss 35 at one end of the plate and a line joining the two bosses 35' at the other end of the plate corresponds to the spacing of the upright flanges of beam 2' which is of H-beam section. Moreover, the plates 30 are so aligned that the bosses 35 on all the plates are arranged in two parallel rows which are spaced apart the same distance as the upright flanges of the H beam 2. Thus as the beam raises the plates each is engaged at only three points thereby, so that while each plate is held against any tendency to tilt it cannot be subjected to any bending stress. After the truck 3 has been rolled into approxi mate position straddling the beam 2 it is raised. Guide means are'provided to engage the beam during such raising movement to shift the truck slightly as necessary to bring the two rows of .bosses 35 and the upright H-beam flanges into exact registry. Such means may consist of inclined pins carried by the plates '30 adjacent to' the rows of bosses 35 which will be deflected and move the truck correspondingly by engagement with the beam 2. Preferably, each plate 30 has a tapped hole 35 adjacent to each boss 35 and a threaded pin 31 is screwed into each such tapped hole.

/ When the molds have been loaded on the lower plates 30 an upper plate II maybe placed on each immediately. I prefer, however, that'these upper plates be permanently supported from the flxed frame I in positions to register with the molds on the respective plates 30 when the truck 3 is rolled into place beneath the frame I and the beam 2 is raised to position the truck accurately sidewise. Suitable means, such as tapered guide blocks I2, may also be provided to engage the ends of the truck 3 for positioning it endwise to dispose the plates II and 30 in registry, the spacing between adjacent upper plates and adjacent lower plates being equal.

The plates I I may be either rigidly or resiliently supported from the frame I, or may merely.

beam 2: I prefer, however, that the reaction between the upper plates II and the frame I take place through individual pressure creating mechanism for each plate. I

In the operation of the preferred construction the beam 2 would be raised to support the lower plates 30 rigidly independently of the truck 3.

Each upper plate II is carried by a reciprocable piston rod I3 each of which has a piston I4 received in a cylinder I5 mounted on the frame I.

' As my invention, It claim:

The pressure on each mold is then exerted by and corresponds to the fluid pressure in the cylinders. The end of the piston rod may seat in an aperture in the top of plate II and be provided with a flange received in a collar I6 15 secured to the plate II. Whatever type of interconnection between the piston rod I3 and the plate I I is employed, sufllcient tilting play should be allowed to insure that the pressure plate will seat contiguously on the mold as it is supported on the plate 30.

In additionto providing means for producing proper longitudinal and lateral registry of the respective pairs of plates II and 30, their proper overlying registry should be insured where the plates I I are supported from frame I. .For this purpose an extension I! may be formedon each collar I 6 or on the plate II which is engaged by torsion resistant linkage I8 anchored to the cylinder I5 or to the frame I adjacent to such cylinder. Any other suitable torsion resisting means to restrain turning of an upper plate'about sprue tube S by movement of the plate relatively transversely thereof in the manner shown in Fig. 2. Thus, the truck may be rolled sidewise into apositlon straddling beam 2, or out of such position, with the sprue tube S projecting upward from the mold, even though the top of such tube project above plate II.

1. Casting mechanism, comprising pressure plate supporting means, alower pressure plate carried thereby, aflxed frame above the level of said'lower pressure plate,.an upper pressure plate supported from said'frame and adapted for registry with saidlower pressure plate, and said upper pressure plate having a notch in one edge thereof for engagement w th the mold. sprue by relative movement of such plate transversely of the sprue, and pressure creating means operable to force said upper and lower pressure plates toward each other. 1

2. Casting mechanism, comprising a truck, a plurality of lower pressure plates flxedly secured to said truck, eachhaving upon the lower face thereof three seats spaced in triangular relationship, a flxed frame above the truck, upper pressure plates beneath said frame, each in overlyingregistry with one of said lower pressure plates, a beam extending lengthwise beneath and straddled by said truck, and of a length to engage simultaneously and directly all said seats on all said lower pressure plates, means operable to raise said beam into engagement with the seats on said lower plates and to lift them and said truck to relieve the load on the truck wheels, and means reacting between said frame and upper pressure plates, when said beam is raised, to lift said lower pressure plates and truck; to exert pressure upon said upper pressure plates for pressing molds received between the upper and lower pressure plates.

3. Casting mechanism. comprising a truck ineluding a .framework, a plurality of lower pressure plates, each having upon the lower face thereof three seats spaced in triangular relationship, means fixedly securing each plate to said framework at only three, triangularly disposed locations, a fixed frame above the truck, a plu-,

rality of upper pressure plates .beneath said frame, each in overlying registry with a lower.

pressure plate, lifting means adapted to be straddied by the truck for direct engagement only upper pressure plates, duringsuch application of upward force .to said lower pressure plates, to

exert: pressure upon said upperpressure plates for pressing molds receivedbetween the upper and lower pressure plates.

4. The combination of claim 3, and means to guide upward movement of the lifting means into precise registering engagement with the seats on the lower pressure-plates.

5. Casting mechanism, comprising a truck, a plurality of lower pressure plates fixedly secured to said truck, each plate having projecting from the lower face thereof three bosses spaced in triangular relationship, and all the bosses of all the plates being disposed in two parallel straight rows, a fixed frame above the truck level, upper pressure plates beneath said frame and in overlying registry with said lower pressure plates respectively, a beam of H-beam section with the flanges disposed upright, and the spacing of the fianges corresponding to the space between the ,parallel rows of lower pressure plate bosses,

means operable to raise said H-beam into engagement with all the bosses on all the lower pressure plates, and to lift such plates and said truck simultaneously to relieve the load on the truck wheels, and means reacting betweensaid frame and said upper pressure plates, when said beam is raised to lift said lower pressure plates and truck, to exert pressure upon said 'upper pressure plates for pressing molds received between the upper and lower pressure plates.

6. The combination of claim 5, and inclined.

. pins projecting downward from the lower pressure plates adjacent to each row of bosses, en-

.gageable by the H-beam flanges to guide the flanges respectively into alignment with the two rows of bosses for engagement therewith.

' 7. Casting mechanism, comprising an elongated, fixedframe, a plurality of fiuid pressure cylinders supported along said frame, piston rods each having\a piston received in one of said cylinders, means operatively interconnecting said cylinders for maintaining'equal fluid pressure in all such cylinders regardless of the positions of the several pistons therein and regardless of the amount of such pressure, an upper pressure plate suspended from each piston rod, a truck, a plurality of lower pressure plates supported upon 1 said truck, and disposed in underlying registry with said upper pressure plates respectively, a beam extending lengthwise beneath said frame, straddled by said truck, and engageable simultaneously and directly with all said lower pressure plates, and means operable to raise said beam into engagement with said lower plates and to lift them to relieve the load on the truck wheels during exertion of pressure by said cylinders upon the upper pressure plates.

8. The combination of claim 7, and means operable to restrain each upper pressure plate from appreciable turning about an axis parallel to its piston rod from a position in overlying registry with its corresponding lower pressure plate.

9. The combinationof claim '1, and torsion resistant linkage interconnecting each upper pressure plate with it's pressure cylinder, to'restrain such plate from appreciable turning about an axis parallel to its piston rod from a position in overlying registry with its corresponding lower pressure plate.

10. The combination of claim '7, in which each lower pressure plate has projecting from the lower face thereof three bosses spaced in triangu-.

plates are arranged in two straight parallel rows,

'lar relationship, and all the bosses of all the 40 and the beam is of H-beam section with the flanges disposed upright, and the spacing of the flanges corresponds to the space between the parallel rows of bosses for engagement of the flanges with the bosses.

HENRY I". HAGEMEYER. 

